Ground anchor

ABSTRACT

The ground anchor comprises two substantially triangular shaped plate members mounted to an elongate, substantially cylindrical member. The plate members are pivotably mounted on the elongate member so as to be selectively and pivotably moveable relate to the elongate member between a first or storage position, wherein the plate members abut or overlie one another, or a second or in-use position wherein the plate members extend away from one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

This invention relates to a ground anchor.

Throughout the ensuing description and claims reference will be made toan especially preferred embodiment of, the arrangement in accordancewith the present invention, namely as and in a ground anchor. It shouldbe realised, however, that the invention is not to be considered to belimited to such preferred embodiment and usage. Indeed, the arrangementin accordance with the present invention lends itself to usage in avariety of different contexts, in effect in any context or environmentwhere an anchoring means is required.

2. Description Of The Prior Art

Off-road vehicles, such as 4-wheel drive vehicles, tractors andagricultural machinery which venture off made roads, will occasionallybecome bogged or stuck in mud or in soft sand.

While many such vehicles have powerful winches which might be used towinch the vehicle to safe ground, it is necessary to attach a cable ofsuch a winch to a relatively immovable object so that the winch hassomething to act against.

However in so terrains it may be difficult, if not almost impossible, tofind a relatively immovable object at sufficiently close proximity to beuseful.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a device which mightbe used for debogging a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is providedan anchor comprising: an elongate, substantially cylindrical member; twosubstantially triangular shaped plate members adapted to be pivotallymounted on or to said elongate member whereby to be selectively andpivotally movable relative to said elongate member between a firststorage position, wherein said plate members abut or overlie oneanother, and a second in-use position, in which said plate membersextend away from one another; a shank attached to said elongate memberand adapted to extend substantially parallel thereto; and a furthermember attached to said elongate member, and operatively connected tosaid shank, said further member acting as a carrying means for saidanchor and as a handle or control means to assist in ground-engagementthereof.

There may be retaining means for releasably retaining the plates in saidsecond position.

The triangular plates may have holes in them. Such holes are useful inallowing water and/or sand or mud flow from one side of the anchor toanother and may also be useful to create a handhold for carrying theanchor when the triangular plates overlie one another

A shank for the anchor may be provided.

The shank is preferably inclined at an angle of from 10°-30° to saidaxis, more preferably from 10°-20° and most preferably about 15°.

The shank may be releasably attachable to the anchor.

Bolts may be provided for releasably bolting the shank to the anchor.

The shank may be non-pivotable with respect to the anchor.

The trailing end of the anchor is preferably provided with plates whichcan be weighted or struck or stood upon to drive the anchor into theground.

The trailing end of the anchor may be provided with handles or tiepoints to assist in retrieval of the anchor.

The pivotal mounting means may be a substantially circular bar or tubeon which sleeves are mounted and at least one of the plates is mountedto the sleeves The bar or tube preferably has a pointed ground-engagingend. The bar or tube preferably carries a retrieval ring.

A handle or the like means may be provided for guiding the anchor inentering the ground. The guiding is preferably done at an end away fromthe ground-entering end. That handle may fold and, in folded condition,function as carrying means or handle. The handle preferably can bereleasably attached to the shank in the folded condition, suchattachment being preferably by means of a linkage.

The handle preferably carries latch means for releasably holding theplates in a first, not-in-use or storage position.

Preferably there is a foot which will raise the trailing end of theanchor with respect to the ground-entering end, so as to promote groundentry.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put intopractical effect there shall now be described in detail a preferredembodiment of an anchor in accordance with the invention. The ensuingdescription is given by way of non-limitative example only and is withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anchor in accordance with the presentinvention in its closed, not-in-use or storage condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the anchor of FIG. 1 in its open orin-use condition;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the anchor of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the anchor of FIG. 2.

INTEGER LIST

1. Ground anchor

2. First triangular plate

3. Second triangular plate

4. Tabs

5. Tabs

6. Sleeves

7. Triangular point

8. Sleeves

9. Rod

11. U-shaped shackle

14. Abutments

15. Abutments

16. First carry handle

17. Plates

18. Pivot pin

21. Shank

22. Ring

23. Arm

24. Guide handle

26. Pivot Pin

27. Apertures

28. Second carry handle

29. Footplates

31. Abutments

32. Plate

33. Latch

34. Foot

36. Leg

37. End

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The ground anchor 1 shown in the drawings comprises a firstsubstantially triangular plate 2 and a second substantially triangularplate 3, such triangular plates 2 and 3 being mounted, via tabs 4 and 5to sleeves 6 and 8 which in turn are pivotally mounted on asubstantially circular elongate rod 9.

The triangular plates 2 and 3 preferably have included angles ofapproximately 30°, 60° and 90°. The plates 2 and 3 carry footplates,generally designated 29, extending along at least part of the length ofone side thereof.

The plates 2 and 3 optionally have apertures 27 (shown in dotted line)which are useful in breaking vacuum when the anchor is to be retrieved.

The elongate rod 9 carries a substantially triangular-shaped groundentering point 7 at one end thereof and a U-shaped shackle 11 at theother end.

The sleeves 6 and 8 carry abutments 14 and 15 which will come in toabutment when the plates 2 and 3 are in the condition shown in FIG. 2,whereby to limit rotation of the plates 2 and 3 about the rod 9.

In one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, on the underside of theanchor there is provided a first carrying means, in the form of handle16, which is a length of bent rod secured in any known manner, as forexample by welding to the rod 9.

Plate members 17 are secured on the upper side of rod 9, such plates 17supporting a pivot pin 18 which carries a shank 21 at or in the vicinityof the free end of which a ring 22 is fitted, preferably releasably.

Secured to the rod 9 and plate members 17 is an arm 23 to which a guidehandle 24 is pivotally attached by means of a pivot pin 26

A second carrying means, again in the form of a handle and designated28, is attached to the guide handle 24. The guide handle 24 also has anabutment 31. Further, the guide handle 24 also has an upstanding plate32 which carries a U-shaped latch 33.

A foot 34 is preferably attached to a leg 36 which in turn is attachedto the rod 9, and extends downwardly therefrom. The foot 34 is pointedat one end 37.

From the open position shown in FIG. 2, which is the position for use asan anchor, the anchor 1 can be folded for carrying and storage bylifting the plates 2 and 3 so that they come to the orientation shown inFIG. 1. The guide handle 24 may be lowered to the position shown in FIG.1, in so doing, ensuring that the U-shaped latch 33 engages with andholds the plates 2 and 3 against reverting to the FIG. 2 position. Thering 22 is then passed over the abutment 31 to secure the guide handle24 to the shank 21.

Thereafter either the first carry handle 16 or the second carry handle28 may be used to carry the anchor 1.

The anchor 1 may be returned to the FIG. 2 position by releasing thering 22 from the abutment 31 and by lifting the guide handle 24, whichwill enable the release of the plates 2 and 3 to revert to the FIG. 2position.

It is to be noted that the foot 34 and leg 36 serve to give the anchor atilt of about 5°-20° which will aid ground penetration.

The guide handle 24 can be used by a user to guide and direct the anchoras it penetrates the ground.

The footplates 29 may be stood on by a user to help drive the anchorinto the ground or, alternatively, the footplates may be struck by aheavy hammer or other weight to help drive the anchor into the ground.

The anchor 1 described above has been found to be effective in softground, mud and sand as providing a useful anchoring point in assistingin debogging of vehicles.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modificationsand or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions andarrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention, the scope of which is to be determined from the followingclaims.

I claim:
 1. An anchor comprising: an elongate, substantially cylindricalmember; two substantially triangular-shaped plate members pivotallymounted on or to said elongate member whereby to be selectively andpivotally movable relative to said elongate member between a firststorage position, wherein said plate members abut or overlie oneanother, and a second in-use position, in which said plate membersextend away from one another; a shank attached to said elongate memberand extending substantially parallel thereto; and a further memberattached to said elongate member, and operatively connected to saidshank said further member acting as a carrying means for said anchor andas a handle or control means to assist in ground-engagement thereof. 2.The anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said further member has onefee end portion thereof pivotally movable relative to the remainder ofsaid further member between said first position, wherein said free endportion of said further member abuts with or overlies said shank,thereby to provide a carrying means for said anchor, and said secondposition, wherein said further member extends substantially upwardlyfrom the said elongate member and shank.
 3. The anchor as claimed inclaim 2, including means for pivotally mounting said plate members tosaid elongate member, said mounting means comprising one or more sleevesor collar members rotatably mounted on said elongate member, and whereinsaid plate members are attached to the or selected ones of said sleevesor collar members.
 4. The anchor as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidelongate member includes, at one end thereof, a substantiallytriangular-shaped end portion adapted to assist in ground-engagement ofsaid anchor.
 5. The anchor as claimed in claim 4, including means forattaching said free end portion of said further member to said shankwhen said free end portion is in said first position.
 6. The anchor asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said further member includes latch means forreleasably holding said plate members in said first position.
 7. Theanchor as claimed in claim 6, wherein said shank is attached to at leastone support member fixedly attached to said elongate member, said shankbeing pivotally movable relative to said elongate member around a pivotpin supported by said at least one support member.
 8. The anchor asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said further member is fixedly attached, atone end thereof, to said elongate member at or in the vicinity of wheresaid shank is attached to said elongate member, said further memberbeing made up of two distinct and relatively movable portions.
 9. Theanchor as claimed in claim 8, wherein each plate member includes atleast one aperture extending therethrough.
 10. The anchor as claimed inclaim 9, wherein said elongate member includes, at the other endthereof, a shackle.
 11. The anchor as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidplate members are mounted on said elongate member by one or more sleevesextending therefrom.
 12. The anchor as claimed in claim 11, wherein saidelongate member has one or more abutment means associated therewith,whereby to limit the extent of rotation of said plate members relativeto said elongate member.
 13. The anchor as claimed in claim 12, whereinsaid shank includes, at the free end thereof, means for retaining saidfurther member in abutment therewith when said anchor is in said storageposition.
 14. The anchor as claimed in claim 13, wherein said retainingmeans is in the form of a ring, disposed at or in the vicinity of thefree end of said shank, co-operable with a protrusion disposed at or inthe vicinity of said free end of said further member.
 15. An anchorcomprising: two generally triangular plates; pivotal mounting meanswhich mount an edge of one of said two plates to an edge of the other ofsaid two plates, whereby said plates can be pivoted about an axis from afirst position to a second position in which they extend from oneanother; a handle for guiding the anchor into the ground and for beingfolded to a position where it can be used as a carry handle; a shank forapplying drawing loads to the anchor; and, means for attaching saidhandle to said shank when said handle is in said folded position. 16.The anchor of claim 15 wherein said handle carries latch means forreleaseably holding said plates in said first position.